. >> the chinese government has approved a law forcing internet users to use their real names. china says the new rules will help prevent rumors from spreading and clamp down on corruption. but on-line freedom advocates say the policy is intended to stifle dissent. robert bride is in hong kong and send this report. >> this is a very controversial regulation which, as you would expect, gained a quick response from internet users themselves. in china, many commenting it takes the internet in a backward move. critics have argued that this will mean that anybody who posts anything controversial, anything the authorities in china do not like, will be this possible for that and face recriminations. the authorities themselves, though, argue this is merely a measure to protect the rights of citizens to keep their personal information on the net to private and also it would stop rumormonger ring, unfounded rumor mongering of which there have been a number of examples in recent times, causing panic and alarm among citizens in china. it also does seem to indicate which way the new regime